Education
Commonwealth Court ruling is a massive win for education choice advocates
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer After a more than eight-year slog, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court affirmed what the Pennsylvania Constitution has said all…
Read More: Commonwealth Court ruling is a massive win for education choice advocatesEducation is the first stepping-stone on the path to success, but Pennsylvania students face severe inequality among public school districts. Thousands who can’t afford private school are trapped in failing schools or situations that aren’t the right fit. The solution to this crisis is school choice. By offering families options outside their zip code-assigned district schools, students are better able to find their path to success. Charter schools, tax credit scholarships, education savings accounts (ESAs), homeschooling, and other types of education choice must become a priority in Pennsylvania.
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Education
Pennsylvanians Deserve True Fairness
Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to pursue success in our state. While Gov.-elect Wolf's intentions echo this noble sentiment, many of his proposals fall far short of his vision.
Commentary
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Audio: Could Charter Conversion be in York City’s Future?
York City School District—financially distressed and second-to-last in the state in student achievement—may be in for some much-needed change in the coming weeks. After two years of…
Media
Read More: Audio: Could Charter Conversion be in York City’s Future?Education
More Choice on the way to Philadelphia?
Tens of thousands of Philadelphia students languishing on charter waiting lists have reason to hope. For the first time in seven years, the School…
Media
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Teachers’ Unions: The Common Roadblock to Reform
From Philadelphia to York to the Pittsburgh suburbs, parents and taxpayers are looking to improve public education without breaking the bank. But there’s a common roadblock standing in their way:…
Commentary
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School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding
Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony to this commission on the important topic of reforming how we distribute state funding for education. Our written testimony will focus on…
Testimony
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In Education Debate, Let’s Fund Students not Districts
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 In Education Debate, Let’s Fund Students not Districts Current System Favors Shrinking Districts at Growing Districts' Expense December 4,…
Press Release
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A Smarter Way to Fund Students
Imagine writing a large check for a new car and finding out a year later that it fails safety tests, won’t pass inspection, and needs thousands in repairs. You’d probably…
Commentary
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A Shoddy Attack on Charters
My letter to the editor of the Philadelphia Daily News takes issue with the paper’s recent characterization of charter schools as “fiscal monsters.” The Daily News editorial…
Media
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Is Second Worst Good Enough for York Students?
The second lowest-performing school district in Pennsylvania is asking for more time to improve but refusing recommended reforms. Unfortunately, more time is not something students and families in York City…
Commentary
Read More: Is Second Worst Good Enough for York Students?Education
Step Forward for School Choice
Geronda Montalvo did not want to send her daughter Zayda to the low-achieving schools in her neighborhood. Thanks to an Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) scholarship, Zayda is thriving at…
Media
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Can Your Family Bear the Burden of Tax Increases?
Can you afford to lose the equivalent of a mortgage payment? How about four? Given a possible 188 percent increase in the state income tax rate to pay for Tom…
Commentary
Read More: Can Your Family Bear the Burden of Tax Increases?Education
Victory for Student Safety
In an important step for safety in the classroom, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a bill that will put an end to the abhorrent practice of “passing the…
Media
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Video: There’s No Magic Money Tree
From education to health care to public pensions, it seems like the answer to every problem—for some—is always more spending. But where does that money come from? And why doesn’t…
Media
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Audio: PFT Fails Students, Teachers & the Poor
Matt Brouillette and other members of Commonwealth Foundation were on the ground at the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) protest yesterday, handing out fliers and letting teachers know how PFT…
Media
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How the PFT Fails Philadelphia
By standing in the way of tens of millions of new dollars for Philadelphia classrooms, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has revealed its true identity—a self-interested,…
Media
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How PFT Fails Philadelphia Students, Teachers & the Poor
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 PFT Leaders Use Students & Teachers as Pawns in a Political Game Leaders Block Millions of Dollars from the…
Press Release
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How PFT Fails Phila. Students & Teachers Revealed at Union Rally Tomorrow
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Press Release
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York Schools Can Send a Lifeline to Kids
The York City school board is considering an intriguing proposal to turn over some of its schools to a charter operator to compete with the remaining city schools (if the…
Media
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York Schools Rank 499th of 500 in Achievement, Change is Overdue
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 York School District’s Student Achievement still at Rock Bottom Despite Funding Increases Spends $656 more per Student than…
Press Release
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Assessing the Cost of Tom Wolf’s Spending and Tax Proposals
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Memo
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Analysis: Wolf’s “Fresh Start” Plan Requires Huge Tax Increases
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf’s $4.6 Billion in New Education Spending Would Require Doubling State Income Tax Analysis Reveals PA Families Face…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Wolf’s “Fresh Start” Plan Requires Huge Tax Increases